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Personal Auto Policy

Practice questions on personal auto policy for the casualty exam, each with an answer and explanation.

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Study questions and answers

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1. The personal auto policy defines family member as a person related to the named insured by blood, marriage, or adoption who:

  1. Is listed in the declarations
  2. Is a resident of the named insured's household
  3. Is under age 25
  4. Has a valid driver's license
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B. Is a resident of the named insured's household
A family member must be related by blood, marriage, or adoption and live in the named insured's household. A ward or foster child is included.

2. Which of the following vehicles is eligible to be insured as a covered auto under the personal auto policy?

  1. A private passenger auto owned by an individual
  2. A dump truck used in a contracting business
  3. A motorcycle
  4. A taxicab used to carry paying passengers for a fee
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A. A private passenger auto owned by an individual
The PAP covers private passenger autos and certain pickups and vans owned by individuals or married couples. Motorcycles and business trucks need other coverage or endorsements.

3. Under the personal auto policy, what is the policy territory?

  1. The United States only
  2. The United States and Mexico
  3. Anywhere in the world
  4. The United States, its territories or possessions, Puerto Rico, and Canada
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D. The United States, its territories or possessions, Puerto Rico, and Canada
The PAP covers the United States, its territories or possessions, Puerto Rico, and Canada, plus transport between their ports. Mexico is not included without an endorsement or separate coverage.

4. Liability coverage under the personal auto policy pays damages for which the insured is legally responsible because of:

  1. Bodily injury or property damage arising out of an auto accident
  2. Damage to the insured's own covered auto
  3. Medical expenses of the insured regardless of fault
  4. Theft of the insured's covered auto
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A. Bodily injury or property damage arising out of an auto accident
Part A (Liability) pays for bodily injury or property damage to others for which an insured is legally responsible because of an auto accident.

5. A personal auto policy shows liability limits of 50/100/25. What is the most the policy will pay for bodily injury to one person in one accident?

  1. $25,000
  2. $50,000
  3. $100,000
  4. $175,000
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B. $50,000
Split limits list per-person bodily injury, per-accident bodily injury, and per-accident property damage, so the per-person limit here is $50,000.

6. Under the personal auto policy supplementary payments, the insurer will pay up to what amount for a bail bond required because of a covered accident?

  1. $100
  2. $500
  3. $1,000
  4. $250
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D. $250
Supplementary payments include up to $250 for bail bonds required because of an accident that results in covered bodily injury or property damage.

7. An insured takes a day off from work at the insurer's request to attend a trial. The personal auto policy supplementary payments will reimburse lost earnings up to:

  1. $100 per day
  2. $200 per day
  3. $250 per day
  4. $500 per day
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B. $200 per day
The PAP pays up to $200 a day for loss of earnings, but not other income, when the insured attends hearings or trials at the insurer's request.

8. Which of the following is excluded under liability coverage of the personal auto policy?

  1. Damage to a neighbor's fence caused by the insured's car
  2. Injury to a pedestrian struck by the insured's car
  3. Damage to property owned or being transported by the insured
  4. Injury to a passenger in another car
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C. Damage to property owned or being transported by the insured
Part A excludes property damage to property owned or being transported by an insured. Damage to the property of others is covered.

9. An insured is logged into a ridesharing (transportation network) app as a driver, waiting for a ride request, and causes an accident. Under the 2018 personal auto policy, liability coverage for this accident is generally:

  1. Covered in full
  2. Covered only for property damage
  3. Covered only up to state minimum limits
  4. Excluded, because the vehicle is considered to be used as a public or livery conveyance
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D. Excluded, because the vehicle is considered to be used as a public or livery conveyance
The 2018 PAP excludes liability while a vehicle is used as a public or livery conveyance, which includes any time the driver is logged into a transportation network platform. A rideshare endorsement or the platform's own coverage is needed.

10. An insured is involved in an accident in a state that requires higher liability limits than those shown in the insured's personal auto policy. Under the out of state coverage provision, the policy will:

  1. Provide the higher limits required by that state
  2. Pay only the limits shown in the declarations
  3. Deny coverage until the insured buys a new policy
  4. Pay only state minimum limits of the insured's home state
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A. Provide the higher limits required by that state
The out of state coverage provision automatically raises the limits to meet another state's financial responsibility or compulsory insurance law.

11. When there is other applicable liability insurance, how does the personal auto policy pay for an accident involving a vehicle the insured does not own?

  1. It pays first, before any other insurance
  2. It pays nothing
  3. It is excess over any other collectible insurance
  4. It splits the loss equally with the vehicle owner's insurer
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C. It is excess over any other collectible insurance
For a vehicle the insured does not own, the PAP is excess over other collectible insurance. For an owned covered auto, it pays its share on a pro rata basis.

12. Under the personal auto policy, how long does a named insured have to ask for coverage on an additional (not replacement) newly acquired auto for the liability coverage to apply from the date of purchase?

  1. 4 days
  2. 10 days
  3. 14 days
  4. 30 days
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C. 14 days
For liability and the other non-physical damage parts, the named insured must request coverage within 14 days of becoming the owner of an additional vehicle.

13. Medical payments coverage under the personal auto policy pays reasonable expenses for necessary medical and funeral services incurred within how long after the accident?

  1. 1 year
  2. 2 years
  3. 3 years
  4. 5 years
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C. 3 years
Part B (Medical Payments) pays medical and funeral expenses incurred within 3 years from the date of the accident, regardless of fault.

14. The named insured is struck by a car while walking across a street. Which part of the personal auto policy pays the named insured's medical bills regardless of fault?

  1. Part B, Medical Payments Coverage
  2. Part A, Liability Coverage
  3. Part D, Coverage for Damage to Your Auto
  4. Part E, Duties After an Accident or Loss
Show answer
A. Part B, Medical Payments Coverage
Medical payments coverage protects the named insured and family members while occupying a motor vehicle or as a pedestrian struck by one, without regard to fault.

15. Which of the following persons is excluded from medical payments coverage under the personal auto policy?

  1. A family member injured as a passenger in the covered auto
  2. A friend riding in the insured's covered auto
  3. A person injured while occupying the covered auto that is being used as a public or livery conveyance
  4. The named insured hit by a car as a pedestrian
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C. A person injured while occupying the covered auto that is being used as a public or livery conveyance
Part B excludes injury while occupying a vehicle used as a public or livery conveyance, along with other exclusions such as injury during the course of employment covered by workers compensation. The livery exclusion keeps a personal policy from covering a commercial passenger business.

16. After an accident, which duty does the personal auto policy require of a person seeking coverage?

  1. Settle directly with the other driver
  2. Promptly notify the insurer of how, when, and where the accident happened
  3. Have the car repaired before reporting
  4. File a police report within 24 hours in every case
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B. Promptly notify the insurer of how, when, and where the accident happened
Part E requires prompt notice to the insurer and cooperation in the investigation, settlement, or defense of any claim. Police notice is required for theft and hit-and-run claims.

17. Under the personal auto policy, after a new policy has been in effect for 60 days, the insurer may cancel it only for which of the following reasons?

  1. The insured filed one claim
  2. The insured moved to a new address in the same state
  3. The insured bought a second car
  4. Nonpayment of premium, suspension or revocation of a driver's license, or material misrepresentation
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D. Nonpayment of premium, suspension or revocation of a driver's license, or material misrepresentation
After 60 days, or on a renewal, the PAP permits cancellation only for nonpayment of premium, a suspended or revoked license of a driver, or material misrepresentation.

18. Under the personal auto policy, if the insurer decides not to renew, it must mail notice to the named insured at least how many days before the end of the policy period?

  1. 10 days
  2. 20 days
  3. 30 days
  4. 45 days
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B. 20 days
The PAP requires nonrenewal notice at least 20 days before the end of the policy period, unless state law requires a longer period.

19. An insured borrows a friend's car with permission and causes an accident. The friend's auto policy has liability coverage, and so does the insured's own personal auto policy. Which policy pays first?

  1. The friend's policy, because coverage follows the car
  2. The insured's policy, because coverage follows the driver
  3. Both policies pay equally
  4. Neither policy, because the car was borrowed
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A. The friend's policy, because coverage follows the car
Auto liability coverage is generally primary on the owner's policy. The driver's own PAP then applies as excess for a vehicle the driver does not own.